"Leonard, son of David and Persis Crowninshield, was known to be deaf and dumb [meaning unable to speak]; a small book 'A Catachism Scripture History of the Deaf and Dumb in the American Asylum', in the possession of Lila Stewart Reynolds, inscribed 'to Leonard Crowninshield from his teacher Collins Stone', 'May God Bless is to his Good'; was farmer; lived across the road from the present Crowninshield home. Judith d. of a heart attack. The 1850 Census lists Leonard a. 48, Mrs. L. as 47 and Samuel as a. [?], also listed with above in household was Maria Streeter, a. 10, b. in N.H. and dau. of Levi Streeter. Leonard and Judath bur. No. Hinsdale Cem."

Descendant Debra Frederick relates the story, passed down through the generations, of how Leonard had taught his horses special calls and signals in order to guide them. After he sold one of the horses (or possibly more than one), the new owner came back and complained that the horse(s) could not be driven. Leonard then had to teach the old calls to the new owner, after which the horse(s) responded fine.